AUBURN — After the numbers were checked Wednesday morning, the Auburn school budget vote has passed, 349 to 344, with one vote blank.

Of the people who voted against the budget, 328 said they wanted the budget decreased, and 43 said they wanted the budget increased. 

The budget is slated to begin July 1 with $15.4 million coming from Auburn property taxpayers. That represents an increase of $844,925, which means a homeowner with property valued at $150,000 would pay $66 more a year in taxes, according to the Auburn School Department.

“I really believe that we put together a fiscally responsible budget,” Superintendent Katy Grondin said Tuesday night. “The result of not getting increases over the last three years did make an impact. Taxes have gone up in Auburn, but not due to supporting education.”

She previously said that the proposed spending plan maintains all student services and programs. The increase addresses only the most critical areas — including giving iPad tablet computers to this year’s kindergarten students and adding two positions.

Grondin has said that Auburn spends $8,050 per pupil, below the state average of $9,623.